Sky high to summer’s end

By Liz DeCarlo

Senior Editor

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds with
their F-16 Fighting Falcons and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden
Knights.

If you go

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20-21

Free

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets:

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds with their F-16 Fighting Falcons
and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20-21

Free

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
with their F-16 Fighting Falcons and the U.S. Army Parachute Team
Golden Knights.

But maneuvering this jam-packed show with kids,
strollers and diaper bags requires some pre-planning. Mary May,
spokesperson for the event, offers a few tips for families:

Get there early-at least an hour before the show
begins-to get a good spot. The show's center point is North Avenue
beach, but you still have a good view of things from Oak Street and
Fullerton beaches.

Take public transportation. Or park at the
Millennium Park Garage and take the free shuttle to the show. There
is parking at Lincoln Park Zoo, but it's limited and fills up
fast.

Remember these are the dog days of summer and the
heat is on. Bring plenty of sunscreen and water. There are water
fountains at the beaches where you can refill water bottles.

Consider making it a family tradition. "Families
plan their summer around it and it's such a neat thing to go to the
beach and see the show," May say.

There's something about fighter jets screeching through the sky
that makes the Chicago Air and Water Show the best way to wrap up
your summer.

But maneuvering this jam-packed show with kids, strollers and
diaper bags requires some pre-planning. Mary May, spokesperson for
the event, offers a few tips for families:

Get there early-at least an hour before the show begins-to get a
good spot. The show's center point is North Avenue beach, but you
still have a good view of things from Oak Street and Fullerton
beaches.

Take public transportation. Or park at the Millennium Park
Garage and take the free shuttle to the show. There is parking at
Lincoln Park Zoo, but it's limited and fills up fast.

Remember these are the dog days of summer and the heat is on.
Bring plenty of sunscreen and water. There are water fountains at
the beaches where you can refill water bottles.

Consider making it a family tradition. "Families plan their
summer around it and it's such a neat thing to go to the beach and
see the show," May say.

You should know

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20-21

Free

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds with
their F-16 Fighting Falcons and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden
Knights.

If you go

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20-21

Free

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets:

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds with their F-16 Fighting Falcons
and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20-21

Free

Along the lakefront, from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North
Avenue beach as the focal point.

Best bets: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
with their F-16 Fighting Falcons and the U.S. Army Parachute Team
Golden Knights.